Chapter 10 Vampirism

Interest flashed through the vampire's eyes, and Isabella didn't quite know how to interpret it, but Demitri answered her question truthfully, regardless of his wishes for his still-human companion. The longer she stayed with her humanity, the longer it would cost him to finally unite.

"Yes, I believe 18 is not an appropriate age. You're too young, to make decisions like living hidden from the sun for eternity, if you don't have the right contacts" Demitri replied, expressing his opinions regarding vampirism and all its implications. It wasn't easy, in fact, when you messed with the wrong enemies, you could live as short as humans. They needed maturity, age, less remnants of adolescence in their bodies.

"Interesting, I never stopped to think about that detail. I thought that having knowledge about you and what awaits me afterwards would be enough." Isabella said, thoughtfully.

Demitri took her hand, squeezing it to get her attention, needing a few seconds to recover from the sensations Isabella was putting him through with just a touch.

"Knowing what to expect helps, but you're still young Isabella, if I'm understanding this conversation right. You still have a lot to live through. I know from experience."

She sighed, returning the squeeze on his hand, managing to smile, grateful for the conversation they were having that had no trace of judgment and anger at what he was, like she needed to feel the last time she talked about being a vampire with a vampire before.

"Thank you for not judging, Demitri."

"Why would I do that? I love being a vampire. It's amazing, it's often like we're invincible."

"If you have the right connections." she added.

They laughed and Demitri told her some more of his adventures around the world before joining the Ventrue. Before it got dark for good, the vampire announced that it was time to go. He couldn't stay one more time. He almost said too much, almost told the reason for his visit to the city, but the habit of the other times had put the brakes on him.

"You don't have to go" said Isabella, standing in the doorway, anxious. Her father would be home in a few minutes and she was torn between letting him go or asking him to stay, to be a part of her life.

"I have to. I told you, I can't stay or..."

"You don't have to leave."

Demitri was trying to look at anything other than those green eyes, but her words made him raise his eyes, sighing and giving up any attempt he could make to refuse. From that moment on, that an obvious connection was beginning to be created between them, without her knowing anything about the part about them being mates, Demitri knew he couldn't make anything else up, he wouldn't push her away.

"Do you want me to stay, Isabella?" he asked then.

I don't know why, but yes." she replied, holding out her hand to the vampire.

Demitri took a deep breath and then found himself doing exactly what she wanted. The two went back into the house together, but Isabella's father chose that moment to park in front of the house and did not notice the scene of his daughter pulling a tall boy into the house.

When he went inside himself, he found the two of them in the kitchen, with the young man helping his daughter cut up something that appeared to be a vegetable. He hated vegetables, but there was no point in telling his daughter that, she cared about his health and would not let him buy pizza for them every day, as Daniel would happily do.

"This time it will be just pasta, don't worry, no vegetables", said Isabella, turning around to see her father staring intently at the onion Demitri was cutting.

"Great!" said Daniel, breathing with relief and making his daughter laugh.

Demitri then turned around, nervous about his first interaction with his companion's father. He didn't quite know what to expect, he had never been through a moment like this, so he wasn't sure how to react.

"So, who is this?" Isabella's father asked, leaving his daughter relieved not to mention that this was the boy who was with her in the park the day before. That would be embarrassing.

"Dad, this is Demitri. A friend, I told you about him." Isabella said, pulling the vampyre to her side.

Demitri smiled, trying not to be embarrassed that the two of them had already talked about him.

"The boy has barely arrived and you've already infected him, Isa?" Daniel said, leaving both of them confused, until they realized that both of them were uncomfortable with this interaction, fearing what the older one - in human age - might say.

Embarrassed, Demitri kept up the pretense, even though he was feeling more and more comfortable there, now that he had Isabella around, with no prediction of having to leave.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Isabella often talks about you" said Demitri, trying to smile.

"Call me Daniel, kid"

Demitri laughed, but agreed and while father and daughter went to the stove and Daniel asked about dinner and if she didn't want to give up on that and order a pizza, earning a scolding from the young woman right away, the vampire took a deep breath, calming down and feeling at home, observing what a real family was like, he himself no longer remembered much of the one he had when he was human.

Hours later, the three were gathered in the living room, talking like old friends and Demitri gained the confidence of Isabella's father, who seemed increasingly interested in him and his life, including the time he would spend in the city, ensuring that he could stay there. , it was already late to go to the apartment he had rented.

When Daniel finally went upstairs to sleep and Isabella came back from the bathroom, after letting them have a few minutes together to get to know each other without the pressure of her being around, she found Demitri looking strange, taking deep breaths.

"Are you well?" Isabella asked, worried.

" Yes! Of course, it was just... uncomfortable, but you're already here, so I'll be fine", Demitri said, really seeming to be back to normal, almost looking flushed there now, but Isabella wasn't completely convinced, mainly about the source of that discomfort, that pain that she had witnessed how it could take him to the ground.

Isabella felt the urge to check, make sure he was okay, although she found her own need to check strange, the fear she was beginning to have in leaving him alone, even for a few minutes. She needed to sort it out, understand it, get him to open up to her. That secret ended that night.